It's been a very eventful and exciting day. Carlos came out of the cath lab with a new technological toy. He's got a big blue machine attached by a tube in his groin. He's in the ICU now, chilling. Not that he has much choice as he can't get up or sit up even right now. He also gets to experience his first urinary catheter....an experience I think he could live without. I'll refrain from putting up a picture. Haha. He also got a new Swan-Ganz catheter that continuously measures his cardiac output and oxygenated blood supplying the heart.
They started him on another IV medication called Nipride. So with all the new interventions, his status is now 1A...top of the list aside from people who are 1A and have been waiting longer. This means a call for a heart could come tonight, or in the next couple days, or whenever.
Dr Arabia, who is one of the cardiothoracic surgeons, came by to say hello. He said if Carlos doesn't get a heart by Friday, then 'we' will make some decisions about more long term mechanical devices. The balloon pump is only a temporary stopgap.
Carlos' numbers are lloking a bit better but he is so tired. I came home to try and getvsome sleep. I will write more tomorrow
Showing posts with label cardiologist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cardiologist. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Same Old Same Old
Carlos had an appointment on Wednesday to follow up from the visit the week before. He has said that he is coughing less but otherwise continues to be feeling about the same.
However, the morning of the appointment he experienced some shortness of breath brushing his teeth. I told him that was pretty pitiful! :) We did share this information at his appointment. We were meeting a new cardiologist with less than stellar bedside manner. He initially was very much blowing off my concerns and at one moment was a bit condescending. I was pissed. But I restrained myself, everyone would have been so proud of me :p
So I asked about his next appointment and when we would be repeating the right heart cath. he looked at Carlos' records and the previous caths, and all of sudden he changed his tune pretty quickly. He wanted Carlos back in the office next week, heart cath by the end of the month, and we are to call if 'we even think about the Mayo clinic'.
This sort of treatment has been a recurring theme throughout Carlos' health history. What he looks like just doesn't match what the testing shows. I get so frustrated sometimes. I feel like saying 'I promise I know him better than you do, so listen to me!'.
However, the morning of the appointment he experienced some shortness of breath brushing his teeth. I told him that was pretty pitiful! :) We did share this information at his appointment. We were meeting a new cardiologist with less than stellar bedside manner. He initially was very much blowing off my concerns and at one moment was a bit condescending. I was pissed. But I restrained myself, everyone would have been so proud of me :p
So I asked about his next appointment and when we would be repeating the right heart cath. he looked at Carlos' records and the previous caths, and all of sudden he changed his tune pretty quickly. He wanted Carlos back in the office next week, heart cath by the end of the month, and we are to call if 'we even think about the Mayo clinic'.
This sort of treatment has been a recurring theme throughout Carlos' health history. What he looks like just doesn't match what the testing shows. I get so frustrated sometimes. I feel like saying 'I promise I know him better than you do, so listen to me!'.
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